SILVA, Jose Laurencio, Venezuelan soldier, born in Tinaco, 7 September, 1792; died in Chirgua, 27 February, 1873. When the revolutionary junta of Caracas was installed, 19 April, 1810, Silva offered his services and was appointed sergeant in the forces sent against the royalists of Coro. He served under the orders of the Marquis de Toro, and on his return was promoted lieutenant, taking part in the campaign of 1811-'12 under General Miranda. After the capitulation of the latter. Silva escaped to the plans of Guarico, where he gathered a guerilla force and continued to oppose the Spaniards till he joined Bolivar on the latter's invasion of Venezuela in 1813. Silva participated in the battles of Taguanes, Araure, Barbula, and Mosquitero, and in the famous defence of La Victoria, 12 February, 1814, where his troop of 180 men was reduced to 20. After his recovery from his wounds he was assigned to another regiment, with which he participated in the defence of San Maleo and the first battle of Carabobo. After the defeat of La Puerta and the capitulation of Valencia, Silva retired to Guarico. He was captured by the Spanish under Lopez Quintana and condemned to death, but escaped and joined Paez in Apure, under whom he served till 1819. On Bolivar's return from Colombia, Silva joined him and participated as lieutenant-colonel in the battle of Carabobo, 24 June, 1821. In 1822 lie marched with Bolivar to southern Colombia, participated in the battle of Bombona, 7 April, 1822, and went with the division that was sent in 1823 to aid the Peruvian patriots. In the battle of Junin he was at the head of the Hussars de Colombia, and was promoted colonel, and after the battle of Ayacucho he was made a brigadier of Peru and Colombia. On this occasion he was officially styled the hero of Junin. He continued to serve in Peru, accompanying Sucre in his entry into La Paz, after which he returned to Colombia, and in 1828 was sent to quell an insurrection in Guayana. On his return he was promoted major-general, and after the disintegration of Colombia he demanded a passport to Venezuela with the regiments of grenadiers and hussars of Apure, which refused to continue service in New Granada. As a defender of Bolivar, whose niece he had married in 1827, he was exiled in 1831, and in 1835 returned to take part in the revolution of 183,5, but soon submitted to the government. In 1849 he commanded the government troops against General Paez, with whom he signed a convention at Nacapo, and, when the same was violated by President Monagas, he resigned and retired to his farm. In 1855 he was promoted lieu-tenant-general by congress, and was secretary of war; m the next year he was appointed to the government council, but soon resigned and retired to his country-seat.